Friday, July 27, 2012

I love seahorses, so I came up with a pattern that can be used as an applique or if you make it small as a pendant necklace or for pendant earrings. Use whatever size yarn you want, just use the hook size recommended for the yarn. I've made it using worsted weight yarn and an H hook all the way down to thin crochet thread with an 8 hook. I think it looks best with variegated yarn because real seahorses tend to have mottled colors.

Here is the pattern
Special Stitch

Small Picot (sp): Slip stitch into stitch or chain, chain 1 then slip stitch back into same stitch.

Sl st, ch 1

sl st

Ch 33.

Row 1: Sl st into second ch from hook, then sl st in each of fol 4 chs. Sp into next 6 chs.

the sps should look like bumps

(Fin) Ch 4 dc in next ch, *ch 1, dc in next ch* 2 times. Sl st in dc then in ch dc is attached to.

what the fin should look like

sl st into dc

Sp in next 7 chs, then sl st to end of ch. DO NOT TURN, you will be crocheting up the back side of the ch in row 2.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

My daughter loves penguins, so she asked me to make her some penguin flip flops for her trip to the beach. So what I did was first make a mini penguin applique and sewed it onto the flip flops. (The applique can be used for other projects as well. I think it would be cute on a baby winter hat.) Then I made the strap decorations and anchored them to the penguin and then sewed them onto the straps.

Here is the pattern I designed. This is a relatively easy pattern once you understand how to do a magic circle. I have detailed instructions in the pattern on how to make a magic circle, so don't be afraid to try it.

Materials:

Sport or baby weight yarn in purple (or black) and white

Worsted weight yarn in orange

Black embroidery thread

C-2(2.75mm) hook

Embroidery or tapestry needle with a large eye

Flip Flops

Note: this pattern uses the Sc2tog (Single Crochet 2 stitches together) to do decreases. There are detailed instructions on how to do this stitch when it appears in the pattern. Insert hook in first sc, yo, draw up a loop, two loops on hook. Insert hook in next sc, draw up a loop, 3 loops on hook. Yo draw yarn through all three loops on hook, one sc2tog made.

Now you are ready to put the applique together. Start by sewing the face and body to the backing.

The face and body should look like this on the backing

whip stitch the face on to the backing

whip stitch the body onto the backing, sewing a few extra stitches between the face and the body

weave in the ends

Making the Beak and FeetSew a french knot in the middle of the face for a beak.

Thread the needle with the orange yarn and tie a knot in the end. For instructions on an easier way to thread the needle, check out the end of the pattern

run the needle through the back of the applique in the middle of the face

Wrap the yarn twice around the needle and then run it back through the front of the face near wear you first pulled the orange yarn through. Make sure the yarn is wrapped fairly tightly around the needle.

Beak made

Sew on the feet using french knots and sewing around the knots.

Weave the orange yarn through the back of the applique and put it in position for the first foot

make a french knot again, but this time wrap the yarn once around the needle

after making the knot, pull the yarn through again on one side of the knot

bring the needle around the back of the applique and pull it through again on the other side of the knot

once the yarn is pulled all the way through put the needle through the loop formed with the orange yarn

weave the yarn through the back of the applique to form the other foot

repeat what you did with the first foot, leaving a yarn tail to use for sewing the applique onto the flip flop

Sew french knots in black embroidery thread on the face for the eyes.

Next, sew the applique onto the flip flop.

Here's an easier way to thread the needle with worsted weight yarn

Unroll the yarn

Press it flat around the eye of the needle

slide the flattened yarn off the needle, keeping it flat, then push it through the eye

Sew the applique onto the flip flop.

Strap Decorations

Base (Make 2, one for each strap, base and other circles)

Start with a magic circle

Rnd 1: 6 scs in magic circle, sl st in first sc, ch 1 (6 scs)

Rnd 2: 2 scs per sc, sl st in first sc made (12 scs), ch 23 or as many needed to fit the length of the strap. fasten off leaving a tail for sewing.

Make 5 more circles (3 purple (black), 2 white), like the first one, but omit the ch 23. Instead fasten off, leaving a tail for sewing.

Sew the other circles onto the base circle, alternating colors.

weave the thread through to the end of the circle

Now it is ready to sew onto the strap

Sew the circle piece onto the strap.

use the tails to secure each circle onto the strap

First attach the top circle to the penguin applique to anchor it

then secure the circle onto the strap

Secure each circle then weave in ends

Hope you enjoy the pattern. I'd love to see pictures of what you've done with it.

About Me

Hi I'm Pam G. I'm a life-long crafter and have been crocheting for (gasp!) 32 years. I began crocheting with the guidance of the venerable ladies of my church craft guild. I am an avid supporter of older craft traditions but believe in giving them modern appeal. I'm a CIP certified crochet instructor.

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